Just about half an hour ago an earthquake occurred off Venezuela and was felt as far as Eastern Caribbean.
The quake, which occurred around 5:31 p.m., was centered near the Venezuelan town of Guiria, and was felt as far away as the capital, Caracas, and far beyond. Residents of neighbouring Guyana, as well as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines reported feeling strong shaking.
Witnesses reported feeling shaking as the tremor continued for as long as 15 seconds.
The University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Unit measured the earthquake 6.8 at a depth of 73 kilometres, but the magnitude was later upgraded to 7.0 by the United States Geological Survey.
The position of the earthquake in Venezuela was placed at 55 km east southeast of Carúpano, 95 km northeast of MaturÃn, and 131 km southeast of Porlamar.
The Department of Emergency Management has said there is no tsunami warning in effect as a result of the quake. (CMC/NATIONNEWS)
